Notes on Nothing

Ok, so not nothing, just nothing of any great import...
I'm waiting for a garage-door repairman to arrive at my house...it's making some horrendous noises, and we've finally decided that we're not going to be able to get to it ourselves.

This is a pretty big milestone year or so for BB in that regards...early on in our relationship, he would insist on doing everything himself. Sometimes it was great - saved money, was better than the original. Sometimes, is wasn't. He contracted a company to finish the basement in his old house, and got totally fleeced, which resulted in his spending money for the "professionals", and then spending more money to actually purchase materials and finish the darn thing himself.

Up until the summer we were expecting Tiny Princess, it was the same story..."I can do it for cheaper!" That summer, and into the fall, we realized that we really couldn't. Well, BB realized it. I'd known it for some time that we were NOT able to stretch to all things that needed doing.

That fall, we had someone come and aerate and winterize our lawn. The following spring they came back and did the first fertilizer application for us. We had someone paint the house. We had someone come in and clean our carpet. We had someone come in and fix the dryer (or at least attempt it).

Our garage door has been screeching since we moved in 7 years ago, and I've been begging him to do something about it. I don't like waking the neighbors, and now the children, with a nasty screech every time I open my garage door.

We got a nice little packet of coupons in the mail (you know the ones), which we normally pull some restaurant and pet store coupons out of, and this time around there was one for a garage door company with a pretty good deal, so we called. They're coming today!

ALSO - in our house, we have a few closet issues, and I'm wanting something snazzy in my master closet with drawers and shelves and nice shoe cubbies...you know, like you see on HGTV, or DIY in those design shows...plus my newly decorated laundry room needs something done there too. They put in a "normal" closet - hanging rod, with a shelf above it, about 3 feet of unreachable, unusable space, and nasty bi-fold doors...as we don't use it to actually hang clothing (unless the ironing is backed up), I'd like to have a place to store my ironing board, vacuum, steamer, mop, broom, Sw.iffer, as well as some shelf/drawer space for cleaning towels/rags, light bulbs, cleaning supplies (jugs of concentrated floor stuff, furniture polish/conditioner and the like), and possibly, if there's room, some shelves for dry goods (paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, stocked up cereal). In the same coupon packet was 2 for different companies.

Now, I know that we won't be able to afford the company actually doing the work, and BB would never stand for MDF and wire shelves being installed in our closets by someone else, but I'll tell you what...I WILL be going to the stores to price out lumber, hardware, and the like to determine if it would really be cheaper for us to do it ourselves or not...and I will hold him to his new promise that if it is cheaper or easier, to have it done by someone, so we can spend time on more important things (like reading to, playing with, and loving on our kids?).

That being said...I'm off to go get the Princess out of bed so she can eat lunch and play a bit before she goes back down for nap.

I'm guilty of loving when the kids are the kind of sick where they sleep for the better part of the day...I get so many projects crossed off my list!

I've done the following today, and have more on my plate:

• washed, dried, folded and put away 3 loads of laundry
• cleaned and disinfected the bathrooms (yes, again...we've got a stomach bug here, people!)
• dusted and vacuumed the bedrooms
• dusted and vacuumed the living and dining rooms, and BB's office
• tidied the kitchen counters and table (honestly, that's a post in itself, and the bane of my existence...darn you clutter!)
• put dinner in the crockpot (chili and cornbread)
• worked with Captain Chaos on his letter recognition, and started working on drawing said letters

I will, after the kids go down for naps:

• wash the kitchen floor
• dust and vacuum the family room
• pay bills, file paperwork
• dust and vacuum BB's office
• sort through as many piles and boxes that are sitting in my basement, full of random junk, as I can
• strip my bed, put on clean sheets, and wash, dry, fold and put away the ones that are currently there.

That will leave the following to do tomorrow:

• Go to Super Ta.rget for diapers for our upcoming trip, and a giant plastic tub
• sort through Tiny Princess' clothing, pack away the too small items
• pull the next size out, wash, dry, fold and put away in her closet and dresser
• strip and remake the children's beds
• wash bedding and the rest :D
• finish sorting through the boxes and piles that are cluttering my basement which will fill my recycle bin, and my trash can

All of that in time for me to get gorgeous for our date tomorrow night (God bless my parents!)